The translation of the text «Махершала Али о Blade и проблемах Marvel с черными персонажами» into English is: «Mahershala Ali on Blade and Marvel’s issues with Black characters»
3 august 2026 в 16:13
Mahershala Ali’s interview for GQ was published at an interesting time. It came out shortly after Marvel/Disney canceled the series «Wonder Man» after one season. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II starred in «Wonder Man», - and his performance was so well-received that he was nominated for an Emmy. The cancellation of the series reignited discussions about Marvel’s notable racial issues, as the company clearly struggles with what to do with Black characters beyond «Black Panther» (and I’ve always believed that the success of «Black Panther» as a franchise happened in spite of Marvel, not because of it).
Back to Mahershala. Seven years ago at Comic Con, he made a surprise appearance on a Marvel panel. It was announced that Marvel would be rebooting the «Blade» franchise with Mahershala in the lead role. However, in the seven years since, Marvel has not prioritized this project. They have not released a single film about Blade. Mahershala discussed all of this and more with GQ. Here are some highlights:
How «Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother» came to Mahershala: Bassam Tariq was hired to direct the «Blade» reboot, in which Wesley Snipes played the lead role in the previous version, before the MCU. But in September 2022, when production was supposed to start in a few months, Tariq left the project, after which a tragedy in his life inspired him to write «Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother». The director had always dreamed of reuniting with Ali, who eagerly agreed to play Latif, a devoted Muslim working as a hitman in Houston. His world and beliefs are shaken when his wife suddenly dies, leaving him to care for a newborn and two other children.
Why Mahershala agreed: «I didn’t like how everything ended [with 'Blade']; I like to see things through to the end», - Ali says, adding that he «couldn't say no» after reading Tariq’s script: «I was really drawn to the challenge of playing a character who seemed so layered, but also the intimacy of his situation and the care he would show while fulfilling his mission. All series and films are complex, and I just want it to be complex for the right reasons, and it felt like it would be that way. I’m very grateful that we were able to make this happen and find what I believe is right together».
Will Marvel ever make «Blade»: «Not with me. The best way to answer that question is when I look at what’s for me, it was either this or that—and I chose this. No hard feelings. I’ve been doing this professionally for almost 30 years, and one thing I’ve learned is that something meant for you is yours, and what’s not meant for you is not yours. For some reason, this project is not for me. If they wanted to do it, we would have done it. So I need to move on, and I already have. 'Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother' very much aligns with the type of work I want to be known for. I don’t want to be known for remakes. I would like to do original work that resonates with people and impacts them in unique ways. So I’m fine. [Laughs.]»
If Marvel wanted to make «Blade», - they would have already done it: «Again, you had a contract with me, they have billions of dollars; if they wanted to make a movie, we would have made a movie. So we’re not making a movie. When I look at this and 'Blade,' I couldn’t do both, and the reason this exists is that that project fell apart, and Bassam got the time, space, energy, and focus to write this and then come back to me. And I was able to use the skills I had honed for over a year preparing for 'Blade.' In that sense, I feel creatively redeemed on some level, just in my own journey between me, myself, and I. But I’m ready to move on from questions about 'Blade.' Those questions are for them. They didn’t want to do it, so let them answer that question».
[From GQ]
I have followed Mahershala’s career and read his interviews for ten years—he is not the type to get heated and complain. He doesn’t boil over or lose his composure. But he does judge
Back to Mahershala. Seven years ago at Comic Con, he made a surprise appearance on a Marvel panel. It was announced that Marvel would be rebooting the «Blade» franchise with Mahershala in the lead role. However, in the seven years since, Marvel has not prioritized this project. They have not released a single film about Blade. Mahershala discussed all of this and more with GQ. Here are some highlights:
How «Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother» came to Mahershala: Bassam Tariq was hired to direct the «Blade» reboot, in which Wesley Snipes played the lead role in the previous version, before the MCU. But in September 2022, when production was supposed to start in a few months, Tariq left the project, after which a tragedy in his life inspired him to write «Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother». The director had always dreamed of reuniting with Ali, who eagerly agreed to play Latif, a devoted Muslim working as a hitman in Houston. His world and beliefs are shaken when his wife suddenly dies, leaving him to care for a newborn and two other children.
Why Mahershala agreed: «I didn’t like how everything ended [with 'Blade']; I like to see things through to the end», - Ali says, adding that he «couldn't say no» after reading Tariq’s script: «I was really drawn to the challenge of playing a character who seemed so layered, but also the intimacy of his situation and the care he would show while fulfilling his mission. All series and films are complex, and I just want it to be complex for the right reasons, and it felt like it would be that way. I’m very grateful that we were able to make this happen and find what I believe is right together».
Will Marvel ever make «Blade»: «Not with me. The best way to answer that question is when I look at what’s for me, it was either this or that—and I chose this. No hard feelings. I’ve been doing this professionally for almost 30 years, and one thing I’ve learned is that something meant for you is yours, and what’s not meant for you is not yours. For some reason, this project is not for me. If they wanted to do it, we would have done it. So I need to move on, and I already have. 'Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother' very much aligns with the type of work I want to be known for. I don’t want to be known for remakes. I would like to do original work that resonates with people and impacts them in unique ways. So I’m fine. [Laughs.]»
If Marvel wanted to make «Blade», - they would have already done it: «Again, you had a contract with me, they have billions of dollars; if they wanted to make a movie, we would have made a movie. So we’re not making a movie. When I look at this and 'Blade,' I couldn’t do both, and the reason this exists is that that project fell apart, and Bassam got the time, space, energy, and focus to write this and then come back to me. And I was able to use the skills I had honed for over a year preparing for 'Blade.' In that sense, I feel creatively redeemed on some level, just in my own journey between me, myself, and I. But I’m ready to move on from questions about 'Blade.' Those questions are for them. They didn’t want to do it, so let them answer that question».
[From GQ]
I have followed Mahershala’s career and read his interviews for ten years—he is not the type to get heated and complain. He doesn’t boil over or lose his composure. But he does judge
© Puhova Marina
